Latin draw poker

ABSTRACT

A wagering card game is described whereby players compete against the dealer. Players place an ante bet and five cards are dealt to each player and the dealer. Players decide to make a call bet or fold, a call bet being double an ante bet. Players can purchase one or two draw cards to improve the rank of a hand. Additionally, a player can make one bonus payout wager. If a player hand defeats a dealer hand and the player has not folded, a player is paid even money on the ante bet and a schedule amount on the call bet. If a player loses against the dealer, the player loses their ante and/or call bets. The bonus payout wagers are separate from and immaterial to the outcome between the dealer hand and the player hand. If a dealer hand does not qualify, a game round is terminated after even money is paid on the ante bet of those players who have not folded, and any bonus payout wager is paid.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present invention is a Continuation-In Part application of U.S. application Ser. No.: 09/602,003 filed Jun. 23, 2000 titled “Latin Draw Poker” and a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.: 09/873,554 filed Jun. 4, 2001 and titled “Latin Draw Poker

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a wagering card game, more particularly, a five card draw poker game and associated playing surface whereby players purchase draw cards to improve a game hand rank, the player game hand competing against the dealer game hand.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Card games have been played for a long time, and many variations have been developed. Some card games are for entertainment and many have been introduced into casinos for gaming. One of the most famous games is poker, which is very popular and has a number of variations.

[0004] One of the variations of poker is “stud” poker. This name typically refers to a game where the player may use only the cards that they are dealt, with no chance to substitute a bad card for a randomly drawn new card. Another variation of poker is “draw” poker. This name typically refers to a game where the players do have the opportunity to substitute one or more bad cards for randomly drawn new card(s).

[0005] In a typical game of poker, the players compete against the group by placing their wagers into a “pot” of money that is won by the person with the best hand (or who bluffs the others into believing he has the best hand). In order to play poker, it is preferred to have a full table or four or more players in the group. One variation applicable to casino play is the ability of each player to play against the dealer rather than against all the players. This variation is popular because the players compete against the house rather than against one another. Additionally, one or more players can play the game without the need for a full table.

[0006] To date, there have been a number of various card games that have been considered sufficiently novel to be worthy of patent protection. These patents include 4,836,553; 4,861,041; 4,948,134; 5,022,653; 5,078,405; 5,112,060; 5,288,077; 5,364,104; 5,364,105; and D311,474. The subject invention called Latin Draw Poker includes a number of novel features that are not present in known card games or the prior patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Latin Draw Poker is based on traditional types of “five card draw” poker games. A difference between traditional types of five card draw poker games and Latin Draw Poker is that when playing a traditional game of five card draw poker all game hands, belonging to the game dealer and/or to the game players, compete, one game hand against all other game hands, for a common poker pot comprised of all ante bets and wagers made by the dealer and/or game players for each game round played; and whereas in Latin Draw Poker each individual game player's game hand competes against the game dealer's game hand to win or lose an ante bet the casino requires each-game player to make to qualify to play a game round (the amount of the ante bet made by each of the game players may vary as long as the amount of the ante bet is within the constraints of the casino's minimum and maximum amount of the ante bets accepted), and/or any subsequent call bets (the call bet is typically twice the amount of the ante bet) made by each individual game player during the play of the game round.

[0008] Another difference between traditional types of five card draw poker games and Latin Draw Poker is that when playing five card draw poker the game players do not have to buy any draw cards. In Latin Draw Poker, if the player, having been dealt his/her original five-card game hand, wishes to discard one or two cards with the objective of improving his/her game hand, the player may buy the allowed maximum of one or two draw cards by paying an amount equal to the amount of the game player's ante bet for either one or two cards drawn. The amount used to purchase the Latin Draw Poker draw card(s) is a fee rather than a bet.

[0009] The game of Latin Draw Poker has some similarities to traditional five card draw poker games. In five card draw poker each player, including the dealer, receives a game hand.

[0010] When all the game players “check” (do not bet) their original game hands, or when all game players have made one or more bets on their original game hands, each of the players, beginning with the player receiving the first player hand, or the player having made the first call bet, may discard and draw one to five cards. The Latin Draw Poker game rules restricts the number of discard and draw cards to a predetermined number, for example, to a maximum of two cards. The cards are discarded one or two cards at a time. Discarded cards are replaced by the same number of draw card(s) that are dealt to the player by the game dealer from the cards remaining in the deck. A Latin Draw Poker player who wishes to discard and draw one or two cards during the game round pays an amount equal to the amount of the player's original ante bet for either one or two card(s) received. In Latin Draw Poker the dealer does not discard or draw any cards in an effort to improve his original five card game hand. Neither the game players or the game dealer raises a call bet. Also, in Latin Draw Poker an individual game player's game hand can only win or lose the ante and/or call bets made by the individual game player making the ante and/or call bets. In the event an individual game player makes a bonus payout wager in addition to his ante wager that game player may also win a bonus payout. In Latin Draw Poker there is preferably no common poker pot comprised of all antes and wagers made by all of the game players during the course of the game as there is in traditional types of poker games. In Latin Draw Poker more than one game player's game hand can beat, or win over, the dealer's game hand, and a game player's game hand may only lose the amount(s) wagered on the ante and call bets made by the game player(s) for each game round played. A game player's game hand may only win even money on his ante bet, and an amount designated as applicable to his call bet.

[0011] In Latin Draw Poker a game player's game hand may also qualify to win a designated bonus payout. The amounts of the bonus payout are determined by the casino. The casino posts, or displays, a bonus payout schedule on or near the game table specifying the amounts to be paid to players who have made a qualifying bonus payout wager and have subsequently been dealt a game hand comprised of a selected combination of cards value and card suits.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, a five card draw poker game with associated playing surface, provides excitement for the players and a potential money generating business for the game owner, or casino. In one embodiment, a playing surface includes ante boxes, call boxes, draw boxes, bonus payout wagering circles, a chip tray, a discard rack, and a dealer station.

[0013] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for playing a wagering card game whereby players compete against only the dealer, not other players. Five cards are dealt to each player, and the game dealer, and each player seeks a high ranking hand. The dealer deals each player, who has placed an ante bet, five cards face down and after the dealer receives his/her five card hand, the dealer's hand is also dealt face down, each player decides to fold or make a call bet, a call bet being double the amount of the ante bet. Players, but not the dealer, can purchase draw cards to improve the rank of a hand, either one or two draw cards may be purchased for a fee that is an amount equal to a player's ante bet. Additionally, a player can make one bonus payout wager. If a player's hand defeats the dealer hand and the player has not folded, a player is paid even money on the ante bet and the applicable amount on the call bet. If a player's hand loses to the dealer's hand the player loses his/her ante and/or call bet, but is paid any winning bonus payout wager. If a dealer hand does not qualify, a dealer qualification hand will consist of a poker hand consisting of at least a pair of fives or a poker hand of higher ranking, a game round is terminated after even money is paid on ante bets and any bonus payout winner is paid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 depicts the Latin Draw Poker game table according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0015]FIG. 2 is a close view of the betting portion of the table of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

[0016] Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to specific card games and rules. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made while remaining within the scope of the claims.

[0017] In the exemplary embodiment, Latin Draw Poker is played at a special, blackjack sized game table. Referring to FIG. 1, the game table 10 seats six game players and a dealer. Each game table seat 20 is identified by a corresponding game table seat number 1 to 6 imprinted on the game table top layout 30. The table also includes betting positions of a call box 40, an ante box 50, a draw box 60 and one Bonus Payout wagering circle 70, which is also imprinted on the game table top layout 30 for each game table seat 20 imprinted on the game table top layout 30. Using this exemplary table, the rules of Latin Draw Poker are described below.

A. Game Rules

[0018] 1. The Deck

[0019] Latin Draw Poker is played using one, standard, fifty-two-card deck of playing cards.

[0020] 2. Number of Players

[0021] The minimum number of players that can play Latin Draw Poker is one player and a dealer. The maximum number of players that can be accommodated in Latin Draw Poker is six players and a dealer. If the table was expanded or multiple decks of cards used, then there could be more players. On one aspect of the invention, each player is allowed to play only one game hand during any game round.

[0022] 3. Sharing of Game Information by the Game Players

[0023] Information relative to the value, rank, and suit of any player's game hand cannot be shared with other game players during the play of a game round. In the event that such information is shared by two or more game players all ante bets and call bets made by these players during the game round in which the information is share will be forfeited to the house, or dealer. Further, in the event that such information is shared by two or more players during a game round any bonus payout wagers are forfeited as will the players, violating this rule, eligibility or right to win any part of the bonus payout.

[0024] 4. Latin Draw Poker Game Hand

[0025] A Latin Draw Poker game hand is comprised of five cards dealt consecutively from the deck and delivered simultaneously, unexposed, to a game player or the game dealer by the game dealer. During the play of the game each player has an option to discard and draw one or two cards to improve his original game hand, in exchange for a draw card(s) a fee equal to the amount of the ante bet is paid by the player exercising his/her draw card option. The game dealer does not draw any cards in an attempt to improve the dealer's game hand at any time.

[0026] 5. Ranking of Game Hands

[0027] A royal flush defeats a straight flush, a straight flush defeats four of a kind, four of a kind defeats a full house, a full house defeats a flush, a flush defeats a straight, a straight defeats three of a kind, three of a kind defeats two pair, two pair defeats one pair, one pair defeats a high card, and a high card hand defeats a high card hand with a lesser high card hand ranking, the ordering of the high card being: (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two).

[0028] 6. The Ante Bet

[0029] In order to participate in a Latin Draw Poker game round each player, prior to being dealt any game hand or game cards, must first place an ante bet in the ante box 50 designated for the specific game seat the player is playing. However, unlike traditional five card draw poker games in which all players ante an equal amount in a common pot, the amount of the Latin Draw Poker ante bets may vary from player to player, as each player arbitrarily decides the amount of his ante bet for each game round played. The minimum and maximum amount of the ante bet will be arbitrarily determined by the casino, establishment or gaming location offering and bankrolling the Latin Draw Poker Game. A Latin Draw Poker player wins or loses his/her ante bet made during a game round; and he does not win or lose any ante bets placed by other game players.

[0030] 7. Dealer's Qualifying Game Hand

[0031] To qualify to play against the players' game hands, the dealer's game hand must be comprised of cards having a traditional poker game hand value of at least a pair of five's, or traditional poker game hand having a game hand value greater than a pair of five's. If the dealer's game hand does not qualify to play the current game round, the dealer pays the ante bets of those player's that have not folded; the call bets are returned and the game round is terminated. However, if a player's game hand qualifies to win a bonus payout, and the player has made the required bonus payout wager, the player informs the dealer of his winning bonus payout game hand before the dealer picks the game hand up and places it in the discard rack. The dealer leaves the winning bonus payout game hand on the table and after all the cards comprising the game hands that do not have a winning bonus payout have been picked up the dealer calls the game supervisor to confirm the bonus payout winner and pays the winning game hand.

[0032] 8. Pay Outs

[0033] If the dealer has a game hand that qualifies to play and the player's original game hand, or the player's one or two card draw game hand, has a greater poker game hand value than that of the dealer's game hand, the player will be paid even money (1-1) on the ante bet and the applicable amount on the call bet. Call Bet Payout Call Bet Payout Schedule 1 Schedule 2 Final Hand Type Pays (to 1) Pays (to 1) Pair of fives or Better 1 1 Two Pair 2 2 Three of a Kind 5 to 2 5 to 2 (exception) (exception) Straight 3 3 Flush 5 4 Full House 6 6 Four of a Kind 20  20  Straight Flush 40  40  Royal Flush 100  100 

[0034] 9. Bonus Payout

[0035] The bonus payout is a fixed amount determined by the individual casino or gaming establishment. The bonus payout is paid to any player having a winning bonus payout hand who has also made the qualifying bonus payout wager. The schedule of winning bonus payout card combinations and the amount of the payout for each card combination will be posted on or near the game table.

[0036] The qualifying bonus payout wager is preferably applicable only to the original five cards that comprise a player's game hand. However, at the discretion of a casino's management the qualifying bonus payout wagers may be designated to include any game hand resulting from a player having exercised his/her draw card(s) option.

[0037] 10. One Separate Wager

[0038] Latin Draw Poker games also have the option of offering a bonus payout. To qualify for the bonus payout that may be offered by the casino or gaming location where the Latin Draw Poker game is being played; a player must make a bonus payout wager that is separate from, but in addition to, the ante bet and the call bet each player is required to make to qualify and continue to play a game round or game hand. During any one game round a Latin Draw Poker player may, preferably, have one chance to win a bonus payout by:

[0039] (a) placing the ante bet in the ante box 50 to qualify to be dealt the original five card game hand, and additionally placing the bonus payout wager on the bonus payout wager circle 70, before the game round is dealt

[0040] (b) placing a call bet in the call box 40 to continue to play out the game hand.

[0041] A Latin Draw Poker player, preferably, gets one chance to qualify to win the bonus payout wager. When the dealer's game hand does not qualify to play a game round it is the responsibility of the Latin Draw Poker player, who has made a bonus payout wager, to call the winning bonus payout game hand to the attention of the dealer.

[0042] A player may win the ante bet and call bet without making a bonus payout wager. A player may not win a bonus payout wager without making an ante bet and a call bet.

[0043] A player wishing to make a bonus payout wager does so by placing a wager, (the amount of the bonus payout wager is arbitrarily designated by the game rules or the casino, usually one-dollar), in the betting circle 70 imprinted and identified on the game table layout 30. The dealer will not pick up the bonus payout wager in the betting circle 70 until the player either buys a draw card(s); the player's hand is exposed at time of settlement; or before the dealer pays the ante bet when the dealer's game hand does not qualify to play. Players having made a bonus payout wager who are dealt one of the following poker game hands may win all or part of the bonus payout for the current game round: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, or any other combination of cards that may comprise a winning game hand arbitrarily designated by the casino.

[0044] The bonus payout is separate from all other wagers. Bonus payout winners will be paid according to the specific poker game hand value of each player's game hand who has made the qualifying bonus payout wager prior to the delivery of the upcoming game round cards to the game players.

[0045] 11. Aggregate Total of Bonus Payout

[0046] In the event two or more player's game hands qualify to win all or part of the bonus payout during any one game round, the winners will share a percentage of the aggregate total of the bonus payout, in proportion to the value of each winning poker game hand, for the current game round. In no event will the casino, gaming establishment or gaming location be obligated to pay more than 100% of the amount of the bonus payout posted or declared for any game round for which there is one or more winners.

B. Game Procedure

[0047] 1. The Deal

[0048] After a player(s) have placed their wagers the dealer will activate an automatic card dispensing-shoe, (or an automatic card shuffler and card-dispensing-shoe), that is positioned on the game table or close to the dealer, causing it to deal five cards, the requisite number of cards that will comprise a Latin Draw Poker game hand, one-by-one, into a card tray or receptacle positioned at the mouth of the shoe. Alternately, the game hands for Latin Draw Poker may also be manually dealt to the game players by a dealer using a game hand-held-deck, or the game hands may be dealt, manually, from a standard type card-dispensing-shoe positioned on or near the Latin Draw Poker game table, by the game dealer. When the requisite number of cards that comprise a Latin Draw Poker game hand have been deposited by the automatic card dispensing shoe, face-down, into the card receptacle the game dealer removes the game hand from the card receptacle and delivers it, face down, to the game player seated to the left of the dealer. Other game hands for the current game round are dealt, in sequence, to any player(s) seated to the left of the player receiving the first game hand. After all the players have received their game hands, the dealer receives the last game hand dealt from the deck for each game round.

[0049] 2. Folded Game Hands

[0050] When the dealer receives his/her five card game hand, it is placed face down on the game tabletop layout directly in front of the game table chip tray 80. If the player, feels the game odds are that his/her game hand does not have a good chance to beat the dealer's game hand, or the player does not want to buy one or two draw cards in an attempt to improve his/her original game hand, and the player chooses not to make a call bet, the player simply folds, (places his/her game cards, face down, to the right side of the draw box 60, and the dealer picks the folded game hand up and places it in the game table discard rack 90. When a player folds his/her game hand, the player forfeits or loses his/her ante bet, and any bonus payout wager to the house or the dealer.

[0051] 3. Bet to Call the Dealer

[0052] When the dealer receives his game hand he then places it face down on the game table top layout directly in front of the game table chip tray 80. Once a player has received his five card game hand, dealt face-down to him by the game dealer, the player picks up the game hand and looks at it to decide if he wants to remain in the game round to make a call bet that his game hand will beat the dealer's game hand. If the player feels his game hand has a good chance of beating the dealer's game hand, and the player wishes to continue playing the current game round he makes a call bet, that is double the amount of his ante bet, by placing the call bet in the call box 40 assigned to the game player's designated seat number imprinted on the game table top layout 30.

[0053] 4. One or Two Card Draw Option

[0054] Any player that calls the dealer's game hand can buy one or two draw cards in an attempt to improve his game hand. Any player that does not wish to buy draw cards will stand pat, playing the cards originally dealt to the player as the game hand for the current game round. To receive draw cards, a player must place the discarded card(s), face down, in the draw box 60 and place an amount identical to the player's ante bet on top of the discarded card(s). The dealer picks up the discarded card(s), the buy chip(s) and the bonus payout wager; placing the chip(s) in the chip tray 80 and the player's discarded game card(s) in the game table discard rack 90. The dealer then delivers the top one or two cards of the cards remaining in the deck to the player buying the first draw card(s), and then moves on to the next player remaining in the game, until each player has an opportunity to draw. The game hand resulting from the player exercising his draw card(s) option still qualifies to win the ante and call bet, but not the bonus payout, unless otherwise specified by the casino.

[0055] 5. The Play of the Game

[0056] Each of the game players will place an ante bet in their designated seat's ante box 50. And, if they choose, a bonus payout wager in the bonus payout wagering circle 70. The dealer will deal a game hand to each of the players having made the qualifying ante bet for the upcoming game round.

[0057] When the dealer receives his game hand, he then places his five-card hand face down on the game table top layout 30 in front of the game table chip tray 80.

[0058] The players, having looked at their respective game hands, then decide whether or not they wish to fold or make a call bet to qualify to play out their game hands. Those players choosing to fold will place their cards face down to the right of the draw box 60. Those players choosing to play out the game hand will call by placing a wager, double the amount of the player's ante, in the call box 40. The dealer, seeing that all players have acted on their game hands, makes his first pass around the table to pick up the cards comprising the game hands folded. When the cards of the game players' folding game hands have been picked up and placed in the game table discard rack 90, and the folded game hands ante bets and bonus payout wagers have been collected by the dealer and placed in the game table chip tray 80, the dealer will make a second pass around the table, giving each of the remaining players an opportunity to exercise their draw card option. The dealer starting with the player to his left if he has not folded and remains in the game, or the first player remaining in the game round that is seated to the left of the original first player, will give each player remaining in the current game round the option to discard and buy, or draw, one or two cards for the current game round. Any player that calls the dealer's game hand can buy one or two draw cards in an attempt to improve his/her game hand. Any player that does not wish to buy draw card(s) will stand pat, playing the cards originally dealt to the player as the game hand for the current game round. To receive one or two draw cards a player places the card(s) to be discarded face down, in the draw box 60, and places a buy amount, either in chip's or cash, equal to the value of the player's ante bet on top of the discarded card(s). The dealer picks up the discarded card(s), the buy chip(s), and the bonus payout wager, placing the chips in the chip tray 80 and the player's discarded game card(s) in the game table discard rack 90. The dealer then delivers the top one or two card(s) of the card(s) remaining in the deck to the player buying the first draw card(s), and then moves on to the next player remaining in the game, until each player has an opportunity to draw. The game hand resulting from the player exercising his draw card option will now qualify to win the ante and the call bets.

[0059] After the draw card option pass has been made by the dealer, the dealer turns the five, face down, cards of the dealer's game hand face up and places them in front of the game table's chip tray 80 on the game table layout 30. If the dealer's game hand does not qualify, (i.e. the dealer must have a poker hand with at least a pair of five's, or a poker hand of greater value, to qualify to play out the game hand), to play out the hand, the dealer collects the bonus payout wagers, pays any remaining players, who have not folded their game hands, even money on their ante bets, picks up their game hands face down, and the dealer game hand, places them in the discard rack, and takes the cards from the discard rack and shuffles the deck_in preparation to deal a new game round. If the dealer's game hand qualifies, then the settlement begins when the dealer turns the remaining game hand belonging to the highest numbered game table seat first, and then continuing, counter-clockwise, with the game round settlement of the remaining game hands. During the settlement the dealer will leave all game hands having a winning bonus payout lying face up on the game table top. The dealer will collect all bonus payout wagers as soon as the player no longer qualifies to win the bonus payout or after the winning bonus payout hand(s) has been verified. When the settlement of the non-winning bonus payout hands have been completed the dealer calls the game supervisor and upon the supervisor's authorization pays all bonus payout wagers that have winning game hands.

[0060] 6. Rules of Play

[0061] Latin Draw Poker is a new variation of the traditional game of draw poker. It is dealt from a standard 52- card deck of cards. The sequence is as follows: The player makes the ante bet (the bonus payout wager is optional) and is then dealt five cards face down. The dealer is also dealt five cards, none of which is exposed. If a player thinks he/she has a good hand he/she has the option of calling the dealer by putting up a second wager, a call bet, that is twice the amount of the ante bet. The only other course of action available to the player is to fold his/her hand and forfeit the ante bet.

[0062] Those players who have called the dealer now have an additional option: for an additional amount equal to the ante bet, the player can trade one or two of his/her five cards for new cards. After all those who opt for a trade, discard the card(s) to be traded, the dealer will collect the buy chip(s) for the trade and, in turn, deal each of them the replacement card(s).

[0063] The dealer then compares his/her hand with each of the player hands. In each case, player against dealer, whoever has the highest ranked hand wins. Ties are treated as ties. Standard Poker ranking is used for ranking hands. A-2-3-4-5 is the lowest straight.

[0064] The dealer must qualify with at least a pair of fives. If the dealer does not qualify, all players who called the dealer are paid even money on their ante bet and their call bets are returned. If the dealer hand qualifies and outranks the player's hand, the player loses both the ante bet and the call bet. If the dealer qualifies and the player wins, the player will receive even money on his/her ante bet and be paid at multiple odds on his/her call bet according to one of the Call Bet Pay Schedules set forth below:

[0065] Latin Draw Poker Call Bet Pay Schedules Call Bet Pay Schedule 1 Call Bet Pay Schedule 2 Final Hand Type Pays (to 1) Pays (to 1) Pair of fives or 1 1 Better Two Pair 2 2 Three of a Kind 5 to 2 5 to 2 (exception) (exception) Straight 3 3 Flush 5 4 Full House 6 6 Four of a Kind 20  20  Straight Flush 40  40  Royal Flush 100  100 

[0066] Call Bet Pay Schedule 1

[0067] The player's average bet is 3.0373 units. The house advantage is 3.2657% on the ante, or 1.0752% per bet unit.

[0068] Call Bet Pay-Schedule 2

[0069] The player's average bet is 3.0336 units. The house advantage is 3.9336% on the ante, or 1.2967% per bet unit.

[0070] Bonus Payout Pay Tables

[0071] The player has the option of making a $1 Latin Draw Poker Bonus Payout Wager. If a player's hand loses to the dealer's hand the player loses his/her ante and/or call bets, but is paid any winning bonus payout wager.

[0072] The pay table(s) for the Latin Draw Poker Bonus Payout is as shown below: Bonus Payout Pay Table 1 Bonus Payout Pay Table 2 Hand Type Pays ($) Hand Type Pays ($) Straight 25 Straight 25 Flush 100 Flush 100 Full House 200 Full House 200 Four of Kind 500 Four of a Kind 500 Straight Flush 2,500 Straight Flush 2,000 Royal Flush 20,000 Royal Flush 10,000

Conclusion

[0073] Having disclosed exemplary embodiments and the best mode, modifications and variations that may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for playing a card game between at least one player and a dealer using a deck of playing cards comprising: each player making an ante wager; the dealer dealing to each player five cards face down and dealing five cards to a dealer's hand face down, each player examining their cards; each player making a call wager or folding, each player folding losing their ante wager; each player standing on their first five cards or paying an amount to receive up to two replacement cards for a like number of cards discarded from their hand; revealing the dealer's hand and (i) if the dealer's hand does not have a predetermined qualifying holding paying each non-folded player even money on the ante wager and returning other wagers to the player (ii) if the dealer's hand does have a qualifying holding and (ii) the player's hand has a higher Poker hand ranking than the dealer's (a) paying the player even money on the ante wager and paying the playing based upon a predetermined schedule of Poker rankings on the call wager and (iii) if the dealer's hand outranks the player's, collecting the player's ante and call wagers.
 2. The method of claim 1 comprising requiring each player to continue makes a call wager in the amount of twice the ante wager.
 3. The method of claim 1 comprising paying the call wager according to one of the following rankings, Call Bet Pay Schedule 1 Call Bet Pay Schedule 2 Final Hand Type Pays (to 1) Pays (to 1) Pair of fives or 1 1 Better Two Pair 2 2 Three of a Kind 5 to 2 5 to 2 (exception) (exception) Straight 3 3 Flush 5 4 Full House 6 6 Four of a Kind 20  20  Straight Flush 40  40  Royal Flush 100  100 


4. The method of claim 1 comprising a player making a bonus wager and paying the playing a bonus if the player's hand has a predetermined holding.
 5. The method of claim 4 comprising paying said bonus wager based upon the holding of the player's first dealt five cards.
 6. The method of claim 4 comprising paying the player for the bonus wager according to one of the following schedule, Bonus Payout Pay Table 1 Bonus Payout Pay Table 2 Hand Type Pays ($) Hand Type Pays ($) Straight 25 Straight 25 Flush 100 Flush 100 Full House 200 Full House 200 Four of Kind 500 Four of a Kind 500 Straight Flush 2,500 Straight Flush 2,000 Royal Flush 20,000 Royal Flush 10,000


7. The method of claim 1 comprising qualifying the dealer's hand if it has a Poker ranking of a pair of 5s or better. 